Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-27
EXPOSITION TALK.
VIEWS OF PRESIDENT ASHTON srARKR
AS TO WHAT VIZ NERD.
Riehmond's Pluck and Enterprise Soon to DO
Put 10 the Test In an EifOrt to Raise
Money for an Exhibition Hall.


the city as manufacturing and CONNER
cial centre not crcditable to Virginia as
an agricultural and mining State. No
stranger visiting the grounds would have
suspected from the exhibits he saw that
Richmond worked in her manufactures
10000 hands and tnrncd out annually
goods worth go, 10000 From what
was in sight no one would have gotten
an adequate conception of Virginia s
oyster and fish industries or been III
formed that she produces considerable
cotton and rules the peanut market !;
that her valleys and other lands yield
well wheat, rye, oats, corn. &c. that
she stands ut the head of the list Estates
growing bright tobacco, and that she
manufactures more of "the weed than
any other State that her orchards are
sending forth fruit that deiics COMPETE
ton that on her grazing lands are cat
tie of the finest breeds; that In minerals
she is rich, and development is making
her richer; that the forests that yctremain
10 her have woods of hundreds OF varietics,
and that while 10y no means one of the
richest States of the Union, stIll the Old
Dominion is blessed with something be-
yond historic associations, balmy airs,
and sunny skies that here happy homes
NAV be found for thousands Of new
settlers that instead of our young men
seeking fortune on the snow swept plains
OF the Northwest, in this old Common
wealth. by proper energy and adverti-
sing. a better investment OF their youth,
of their energy, and their enterprise
might be made. Indeed the fairs very
feebly pictured industrial Virginia.
Sometimes the exhibit of agricultural
products were laugbably small for an
agricultural fair" Often Richmond
manufacturers seemed to forget that
there was any such thing as Fair.
1t makes no difference who was to
blame, one thing is certain: Richmond
was neglectful, if not Indifferent
Our folks would one year com
plain that the society was run by
sold fogies," and the next year the
CRY was that the management was
hostile to Richmond. So it went. At
the last meeting of the Agricultural So
clety the fact was recognized that Rich
mond's interest must be aroused or the
fairs were dead. Richmond had long
wished 10 lead the society. The wish
was cratified. Mr.. Ashton StGrke was
elected president, and Mr.. John L.
Branch and others encouraged him to
accept the Office, promising e. hold up
his hands. Mr.. Starke accepted. lie IS
Young businessman of earneStneSs,
vigOr, aud intelligence, and he has gone
to work with great industry and spirit.
AS vet he has been able only to sketch
an outline plan but he is going ahead.
He means to put Richmond to the test.
He will see if tine men who talk center
prise" have enterprise. There can he
no exhibition without an exhibition hall.
To get this is, therefore, the first step.
To this end Mr.. Starke proposes to or
game. His undertaking is patriotic
one. Not a cent will it make him; on
the contrary, il will cost him much time,
which. in his case, means much money.
He is kind-hearted, affable, and public
spirited, and ought to be a successful
leader Now, let's see if we can't all
pull together under him, or if there is
better leader to be found let him step up,
and the Dispatch warrants that Mr..
Starke Will step down.
This enterprise must be successful
and it will be. There will be oceans of
talk: so there was about the new de-
pot, about the Mozart Hall, about the
City Hall, about the Young Mems Chris
tian Association building, about the Lee
monument celebration. But in the end
the money will be forthcoming.
SO that Mr.. Stsrke might speak to the
public in his own language, the Dispatch
Yesterday questioned him on prominent
points in this connection and with the
result following:
Views OF MIR. Starke.
Have You received any evidences of
interest IN your proposed exposition
81 have yet to hear from single man
who doesn't think that such an exposition
or fair, or both, as l have suggested, will
be of great benefit to our city and trade
] cannot begin to say how many have
written to and called upon me. One
man has said, L will be one of twenty
five to contribute 81. 900 each Another.
L will drop you a check for $500 And
many have voluntarily offered to con-
tribute from 80 to 800, although |
have not requested or limited at a con-
tribution from a soul.
THE FAIRGROUNDS.
What changes would be necessary at
the grounds-that is, in the arrangement
of the grounds, enlargement OF build
ings, &c.
at depends entirely upon oChat ne
can afford TO do / have said before
that the one thing needed is a building
adapted to the purposes. l believe one
large building would do. with those at
present on the grounds grouped around
1t AN expenditure of few hundred dol
lars on the present grand stand, the con-
structinn Of one-half- or three-quarter-
mile track, and fence dividing the race
track and exhibition gounds, together
with ordinary repairto stalls, stables, &c,
will about include all that needs be done,
at least until we show the people how
greatly they will profit by it. The So
ciety owns four and half acres across
the railroad, with q constant stream Of
water through it, This have thought
OF converting into a clear lake, which
can be done al small cost, and would add
greatly 10 the grounds.
FINANCIAL.
How much would all OF this cost ?
81 cannot of course go into the de-
tails of my calculations here. | shall be
glad 10 do so at some future time. My
estimate is that if Richmond will raise,
in any way she may think best, $50, 900,
we will be able to have an exposition
building the duplicate of Atlan,a's main
building, which is grand in appearance
and gives q clear room Of 575 feet by 100
feet, with second story, the floor Of
which is broken only by three openings
for letting down the light from the roof
Tine building is surmounted by lanterns
towers, pedenants, &c, with balconies,
vestibules, &C., on both floors"
THE WAY.
How can the money be raised?
"Why, there are many ways in which
1t can be done. First, by actual cash
subscription. Our city is abundantly
n able 10 do it. II would he an insult 10 her
for any one to say that she is not. II all
are not in condition 10 contribute cash,